U.S. patent application number 15/140435 was filed with the patent office on 2016-11-03 for expandable and contractible hose.
The applicant listed for this patent is Thomas William David Ashcroft. Invention is credited to Thomas William David Ashcroft.
Application Number | 20160319965 15/140435 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57198229 |
Filed Date | 2016-11-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160319965 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ashcroft; Thomas William
David |
November 3, 2016 |
EXPANDABLE AND CONTRACTIBLE HOSE
Abstract
An expandable and contractible hose, the hose includes a
segmented tubular wall circumscribing an interior. The segmented
tubular wall is made up of a plurality of contiguous segments. Each
contiguous segment expands along the length of the hose with the
application of pressure from within. A bias holds the contiguous
segments in a collapsed state when no pressure is applied from
within the interior. A pressurized fluid passing within the
interior overcomes the bias and causes the contiguous segments to
expand into an expanded state.
Inventors: |
Ashcroft; Thomas William David;
(Granby, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ashcroft; Thomas William David |
Granby |
|
CA |
|
|
Family ID: |
57198229 |
Appl. No.: |
15/140435 |
Filed: |
April 27, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62153565 |
Apr 28, 2015 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B32B 7/12 20130101; B32B
2307/54 20130101; B32B 2597/00 20130101; B32B 2307/51 20130101;
F16L 11/118 20130101; B32B 1/00 20130101; B32B 1/08 20130101; B32B
3/26 20130101; B29K 2995/0094 20130101; F16L 33/01 20130101; B32B
3/28 20130101; B32B 27/08 20130101; B32B 2307/724 20130101; F16L
11/12 20130101; B29C 49/00 20130101; B32B 3/16 20130101; B32B
2410/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F16L 11/12 20060101
F16L011/12 |
Claims
1) A hose, comprising: a segmented tubular wall circumscribing an
interior, said segmented tubular wall having a first end, a second
end and length; wherein said segmented tubular wall is a plurality
of contiguous segments; wherein each said contiguous segment has a
circumscribing apex lying within a transverse plane and defining an
outer radius, a first wall segment angled from said apex towards
said interior at a first angle from said transverse plane, and a
second wall segment angled from said apex towards said interior at
a second angle from said transverse plane; wherein said first and
second wall segments of adjacent contiguous segments terminate in a
circumscribing trough defining an inner radius; and wherein said
first and second wall segments extend from the same side of said
transverse plane in a contracted state and extend from opposites
sides of said transverse plane in an expanded state.
2) A hose as recited in claim 1, wherein said transverse plane is
perpendicular to said length.
3) A hose as recited in claim 1, further comprising a bias to keep
said first wall segment and said second wall segment on the same
side of said transverse plane in a contracted state.
4) A hose as recited in claim 3, wherein said bias is a material
memory force built into said segmented tubular wall.
5) A hose as recited in claim 3, wherein said bias is an external
biasing element.
6) A hose as recited in claim 5, wherein said external biasing
element is an external elastic layer.
7) A hose as recited in claim 6, wherein said external elastic
later is a porous layer.
8) A hose as recited in claim 6, wherein said external elastic
layer is an elastic sleeve that freely moves independently of said
segmented tubular wall.
9) A hose as recited in claim 6, wherein said external elastic
layer is partially bonded to each contiguous segment.
10) A hose as recited in claim 6, wherein said external elastic
layer is an elastic coating bonded everywhere to said segmented
tubular wall.
11) A hose as recited in claim 5, wherein said external biasing
element is coupled to seal with said segmented tubular wall at said
first and second ends.
12) A hose as recited in claim 3, wherein said bias is an internal
biasing element contained within said interior.
13) A hose as recited in claim 12, wherein said internal biasing
element is an internal elastic tube having an internal elastic
wall.
14) A hose as recited in claim 13, wherein said internal elastic
wall is coupled to seal with said segmented tubular wall at said
first and second ends.
15) A hose as recited in claim 1, further comprising a first
coupler on said first end.
16) A hose as recited in claim 1, further comprising a second
coupler on said second end.
17) A hose as recited in claim 1, further comprising a straight
element at said first and second ends.
18) A hose as recited in claim 1, further comprising periodic
straight elements for cutting said tubular wall to specific
lengths.
19) A hose as recited in claim 1, whereby when in the expanded
state said second angle is less than said first angle.
20) A hose as recited in claim 1, whereby when in the contracted
state said second angle is less than said first angle.
21) A hose as recited in claim 1, whereby when said length
increases, said length increases in discrete increments as each
contiguous segment expands independently of other contiguous
segments.
22) A hose as recited in claim 1, whereby when said length
increases, said length increases continuously as all contiguous
segments expand equally.
23) A hose as recited in claim 1, whereby the application of
pressure from within said interior causes said second angle to
transition from one side to the other side of said transverse
plane.
24) A hose as recited in claim 1, wherein said tubular wall has an
elongation ratio of the length in the expanded state to the length
in the contracted state that is greater than 2 to 1.
25) A hose, comprising: A segmented tubular wall circumscribing an
interior, said segmented tubular wall having a first end, a second
end and length; said segmented tubular wall having a plurality of
contiguous segments that each expand along said length of said
segmented tubular wall with the application of pressure from within
said interior; and a bias to hold said continuous segments in a
collapsed state when no pressure is applied from within said
interior.
26) A hose as recited in claim 25, whereby when pressure is removed
from within said interior said length collapses.
27) A hose as recited in claim 25, wherein each contiguous segment
has a circumscribing apex that defines an outer radius; wherein
each contiguous segment has a first wall segment angled from said
apex towards said interior, a second wall segment angled from said
apex towards said interior, and an expansion angle there between;
wherein said expansion angle is zero in the collapsed state;
wherein said expansion angle is greater than 30-degrees in an
expanded state.
28) A hose as recited in claim 27, wherein said first wall segment
and second wall segments are segments of a conical surface.
29) A hose as recited in claim 25, wherein said bias is an internal
elastic tube having an internal elastic wall
30) A hose as recited in claim 25, wherein said bias is an external
elastic layer.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 62/153,565, filed Apr. 28, 2015,
which is herein incorporated by reference.
FIELD
[0002] This patent application generally relates to a hose. More
specifically, it relates to a hose that expands and contracts in
response to the amount of fluid pressure that is applied from
within.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Hard rubber watering hoses have been the standard for
decades. They are heavy, not easy to handle and hard to store. More
recently lighter weight expanding and contracting hoses have become
popular as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,291,941 and 8,291,942 to
Berardi. The present patent application aims to provide a novel
expandable and contractible hose that is light-weight, durable,
abrasion resistant and can endure high fluid pressure.
SUMMARY
[0004] One aspect of the present patent application is a hose that
contracts and expands under the influence of fluid pressure from
within. The hose comprises a segmented tubular wall circumscribing
an interior; the segmented tubular wall has a first end, a second
end and length. The segmented tubular wall is a plurality of
contiguous segments. Each contiguous segment has a circumscribing
apex lying within a transverse plane and defining an outer radius,
a first wall segment angled from the apex towards the interior at a
first angle from the transverse plane, and a second wall segment
angled from the apex towards the interior at a second angle from
the transverse plane. The first and second wall segments of
adjacent contiguous segments terminate in a circumscribing trough
defining an inner radius. The first and second wall segments extend
from the same side of the transverse plane in a contracted state
and extend from opposites sides of the transverse plane in an
expanded state. A bias is provided to keep said first wall segment
and second wall segment on the same side of the transverse plane in
a contracted state. The bias may be a memory force built into the
segmented tubular wall, an external bias that is located outside of
the segmented tubular wall, an internal bias that is located within
the interior of the segmented tubular wall, or a combination of any
thereof.
[0005] Another aspect of the present patent application is a hose
that contracts and expands under the influence of fluid pressure
from within. The hose comprises a segmented tubular wall
circumscribing an interior; the segmented tubular wall has a first
end, a second end and length. The segmented tubular wall has a
plurality of contiguous segments that each expand along the length
of the segmented tubular wall with the application of pressure from
within the interior. The hose further includes a bias to hold the
continuous segments in a collapsed state when no pressure is
applied from within said interior. The bias may be a memory force
built into the segmented tubular wall, an external bias that is
located outside of the segmented tubular wall, an internal bias
that is located within the interior of the segmented tubular wall,
or a combination of any thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0006] For the purposes of illustrating the invention, the drawings
show aspects of one or more embodiments of the invention. However,
it should be understood that the present invention is not limited
to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the
drawings, wherein:
[0007] FIG. 1a is a partial sectional, perspective view of a hose
having a segmented tubular wall in the collapsed state as described
in the present disclosure;
[0008] FIG. 1b is an enlarged view of the dashed section 1b
outlined in FIG. 1a;
[0009] FIG. 1c is a partial sectional, perspective view of the hose
in FIG. 1a in the expanded state;
[0010] FIG. 1d is an enlarged view of the dashed section 1d
outlined in FIG. 1c;
[0011] FIG. 2a is a partial sectional, perspective view of the hose
in FIG. 1a further including an internal elastic wall as an
internal bias;
[0012] FIG. 2b is an enlarged view of the dashed section 2b
outlined in FIG. 2a;
[0013] FIG. 2c is a partial sectional, perspective view of the hose
in FIG. 2a in the expanded state;
[0014] FIG. 2d is an enlarged view of the dashed section 2d
outlined in FIG. 2c;
[0015] FIG. 3a is a partial sectional, perspective view of the hose
in FIG. 1a further including an external elastic wall of a sleeve
as an external bias;
[0016] FIG. 3b is an enlarged view of the dashed section 3b
outlined in FIG. 3a;
[0017] FIG. 3c is a partial sectional, perspective view of the hose
in FIG. 3a in the expanded state;
[0018] FIG. 3d is an enlarged view of the dashed section 3d
outlined in FIG. 3c;
[0019] FIG. 4a is a partial sectional, perspective view of the hose
in FIG. 1a further including an external elastic layer bonded to
the segmented tubular wall, the external elastic layer acting as an
external bias;
[0020] FIG. 4b is an enlarged view of the dashed section 4b
outlined in FIG. 4a;
[0021] FIG. 4c is a partial sectional, perspective view of the hose
in FIG. 4a in the expanded state;
[0022] FIG. 4d is an enlarged view of the dashed section 4d
outlined in FIG. 4c;
[0023] FIG. 5a is a side, sectional schematic view of two
contiguous segments of the segmented tubular wall of FIGS. 1c, 2c,
3c and 4c illustrating various elements of the segmented tubular
wall in the expanded state;
[0024] FIG. 5b is a side, sectional schematic view of two
contiguous segments of the segmented tubular wall of in FIGS. 1a,
2a, 3a and 4a illustrating various elements of the segmented
tubular wall in the contracted state;
[0025] FIG. 6a is a side view of a section of the segmented tubular
wall of FIGS. 1a, 2a, 3a and 4a in the contracted state;
[0026] FIG. 6b is a side, sectional view of the segmented tubular
wall shown in FIG. 6a;
[0027] FIG. 7a is side view of a section of the segmented tubular
wall of FIGS. 1c, 2c, 3c and 4c in the expanded state;
[0028] FIG. 7b is a side, sectional view of the segmented tubular
wall shown in FIG. 7a;
[0029] FIG. 8 is a side view of a section of the segmented tubular
wall shown in FIGS. 1a-4d depicting one embodiment of how the
contiguous segments of the hose may expand and contract;
[0030] FIG. 9a is a side view of the segmented tubular wall in FIG.
1c, showing one embodiment of the end structure of the hose;
[0031] FIG. 9b is a side, sectional view of the segmented tubular
wall in FIG. 9a;
[0032] FIG. 10a is a side view showing an embodiment of the
segmented tubular wall in FIGS. 1a, 2a, 3a and 4a with several
contiguous segments replaced with a straight element;
[0033] FIG. 10b is a side, sectional view of the segmented tubular
wall in FIG. 10a;
[0034] FIG. 11a is a side, sectional view of a section of hose of
FIG. 2a in the contracted state showing both the segmented tubular
wall and internal elastic tubular wall;
[0035] FIG. 11b is a side, sectional view of the section of hose of
FIG. 11a in the expanded state;
[0036] FIG. 12a is a side, sectional view of a section of hose of
FIG. 3a in the contracted state showing both the segmented tubular
wall and external elastic tubular wall as a sleeve;
[0037] FIG. 12b is a side, sectional view of the section of hose of
FIG. 12a in the expanded state;
[0038] FIG. 13a is a side, sectional view of an alternative
embodiment of a section of hose of FIG. 3a in the contracted state
showing both the segmented tubular wall and an external elastic
wall as an elastic coating;
[0039] FIG. 13b is a side, sectional view of the section of hose of
FIG. 13a in the expanded state;
[0040] FIG. 14a is a side, sectional view of a section of hose of
FIG. 4a in the contracted state showing both the segmented tubular
wall and an external elastic wall as a bonded layer;
[0041] FIG. 14b is a side, sectional view of the section of hose of
FIG. 14a in the expanded state;
[0042] FIG. 15a is a side, sectional view of one embodiment of a
coupler that may be added to an end of the hose in FIGS. 1a and
1c;
[0043] FIG. 15b is a side, sectional view of one embodiment of a
coupler that may be added to the hose in FIGS. 2a and 2c;
[0044] FIG. 15c is a side, sectional view of one embodiment of a
coupler that may be added to the hose in FIGS. 3a and 3c;
[0045] FIG. 15d is a side, sectional view of one embodiment of a
coupler that may be added to the hose having both an internal and
external bias;
[0046] FIG. 15e is a side, sectional view of one embodiment of a
coupler that may be added to the hose in FIGS. 4a and 4c;
[0047] FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of
tooling used to process a segmented tubular hose structure that is
a precursor to the segmented tubular wall shown in FIGS. 1a-4d and
13a-13b;
[0048] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a mold block used in
conjunction with the tooling illustrated in FIG. 16;
[0049] FIG. 18a is a sectional schematic diagram of a co-extrusion
head that may be used to process the elastic tubular wall on the
interior or exterior of segmented tubular wall of FIGS. 2a-4d;
[0050] FIG. 18b is sectional view of the co-extrusion head of FIG.
18a along line 18b-18b;
[0051] FIG. 18c is a sectional view of the co-extrusion head of
FIG. 18b along line 18c-18c;
[0052] FIG. 19a is a table listing various materials and processing
parameters that may be used to form the expanding and contracting
segmented tubular wall shown in FIGS. 1a-4d and 13a-13b;
[0053] FIG. 19b is a table listing various elastic materials that
may be used to form the internal and external biasing elements;
[0054] FIG. 20a is a side view showing a first step involved for
adding an inherent bias during an embodiment of fabricating the
segmented tubular wall in FIGS. 1a-4d and 13a-13b;
[0055] FIG. 20b is a side view showing a second step involved for
adding an inherent bias during an embodiment of fabricating the
segmented tubular wall in FIGS. 1a-4d and 13a-13b;
[0056] FIG. 20c is a side view showing a third step involved for
adding an inherent bias during an embodiment of fabricating the
segmented tubular wall in FIGS. 1a-4d and 13a-13b;
[0057] FIG. 20d is a side view showing a fourth step involved for
adding an inherent bias during an embodiment of fabricating the
segmented tubular wall in FIGS. 1a-4d and 13a-13b;
[0058] FIG. 21 is a process flow chart illustrating the general
process flow for making the hose structures shown in FIGS. 1a-4d
and 13a-13b;
[0059] FIG. 22a is a side view illustrating the contracted state of
the hose shown in FIGS. 1a-1d;
[0060] FIG. 22b is a side, sectional view when pressurized fluid
fills the hose shown in FIG. 22a;
[0061] FIG. 22c is a side, sectional view when unpressurized fluid
fills the hose shown in FIG. 22a;
[0062] FIG. 23a is a side view illustrating the contracted state of
the hose shown in FIGS. 2a-2d;
[0063] FIG. 23b is a side, sectional view when pressurized fluid
fills the hose shown in FIG. 23a;
[0064] FIG. 23c is a side, sectional view when unpressurized fluid
fills the hose shown in FIG. 23a;
[0065] FIG. 24a is a side view illustrating the contracted state of
the hose shown in FIGS. 3a-3d;
[0066] FIG. 43b is a side, sectional view when pressurized fluid
fills the hose shown in FIG. 24a;
[0067] FIG. 24c is a side, sectional view when unpressurized fluid
fills the hose shown in FIG. 24a;
[0068] FIG. 25a is a side view illustrating the contracted state of
the hose shown in FIGS. 4a-4d;
[0069] FIG. 25b is a side, sectional view when pressurized fluid
fills the hose shown in FIG. 25a; and
[0070] FIG. 25c is a side, sectional view when unpressurized fluid
fills the hose shown in FIG. 25a.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0071] FIGS. 1a-25c illustrate various aspects of expandable and
contractible hose 30 having multiple embodiments 30a, 30b, 30c,
30d, 30e and 30f. Hose 30 comprises a segmented tubular wall 31
circumscribing an interior 32. Segmented tubular wall 31 has a
first end 33, a second end 34 and length. Segmented tubular wall 31
is a plurality of contiguous segments 35. Each contiguous segment
35 has a circumscribing apex 36 lying within a transverse plane 37
and defining an outer radius 38, a first wall segment 39 angled
from apex 36 towards interior 32 at a first angle .theta..sub.1
from transverse plane 37, and a second wall segment 40 angled from
apex 36 towards interior 32 at a second angle .theta..sub.2 from
transverse plane 37. Transverse plane 37 is generally perpendicular
to the length of the hose. First wall and second wall segments of
adjacent contiguous segments terminate in a circumscribing trough
42 defining an inner radius 44. First wall segment 39 and second
wall segment 40 extend from the same side of transverse plane 37 in
a contracted state (FIG. 5b) and extend from opposites sides of the
transverse plane in an expanded state (FIG. 5a).
[0072] First wall segments 39 and second wall segments 40 are each
generally sections of a conical surface. Each pair of wall segments
(39, 40), making up a contiguous segment 35, is generally equally
spaced in the contracted state or in the expanded state. Also, each
contiguous segment 35 is preferably identically shaped so they can
collapse and stack tightly together in the collapsed state.
[0073] The ability of hose 30 to expand and contract is a property
of second angle .theta..sub.2 being less than first angle
.theta..sub.1 in both the expanded and contracted states. Second
wall segment 40 can flip back and forth across transverse plane 37
to create a shorter length hose in the contracted state and a
longer length hose in the expanded state. Application of pressure
from within interior 32 in conjunction with bias 50 work together
to cause second angle .theta..sub.2 to transition from one side to
the other side of transverse plane 37. First angle .theta..sub.1
and second angle .theta..sub.2 combine to form an expansion angle
having a magnitude of close to zero in the collapsed state and
greater than 30-degrees in the expanded state. Segmented tubular
wall 31 generally has an elongation ratio, the length in the
expanded state to the length in the contracted state, that is
generally greater than 2:1 and preferably in the range of 3:1 to
10:1. The expansion ratio is a function of the angle of each
segment relative to transverse plane 37 and the length of each wall
segment (39, 40). First angle .theta..sub.1 and second angle
.theta..sub.2 may retain relatively low angles to retain a
significantly grooved structure or expand all the way to 90-degrees
to give a generally smooth segmented tubular wall depending on the
material, wall thickness and pressure within said segmented tubular
wall. Contiguous segments 35 may expand and contract independently
of other contiguous segments, as depicted in FIG. 8, so that the
length of hose 30 increases in discrete increments. Alternatively,
contiguous segments 35 may expand and contract equally to have the
length of hose 30 increase or decrease continuously.
[0074] Hose 30 comprises some type of bias 50 that is required to
keep first wall segment 39 and second wall segment 40 on the same
side of transverse plane 37 in the contracted state, but allow the
first wall segment and second wall segment to lie on opposite sides
of the transverse plane when in an expanded state. Bias 50 may be
an inherent bias that is inherently built into segmented tubular
wall 31 such as a material memory force built into the segmented
tubular wall. A hose 30a based on such an inherent bias is shown in
FIGS. 1a-1d and 22a-22c.
[0075] Bias 50 may be an internal bias from an internal biasing
element 52. Internal biasing element 52 may be any internal biasing
element such as a spring, an elastic strip, an elastic coating, an
elastic tube or other elastic material structure having an elastic
wall, etc. A hose 30b based on one such internal bias, specifically
an internal elastic tube having an internal elastic wall, is shown
in FIGS. 2a-2d, 11a-11b and 23a-23c.
[0076] Bias 50 may be an external bias from an external biasing
element 53. External biasing element 53 may be any external biasing
element such as a spring, an elastic coating, an elastic layer,
co-extruded elastic layer, a dipped or sprayed elastic coating or
layer, an elastic material having an elastic wall, etc. External
biasing element 53 may be a sleeve that freely moves independently
over segmented tubular wall 31. External biasing element 53 may be
partially bonded to some or all of the contiguous segments.
External biasing element 53 may also be bonded everywhere to
segmented tubular wall 31. A hose 30c based on one type of external
bias, an external elastic sleeve having an external elastic wall,
is shown in FIGS. 3a-3d and 12a-12b and 24a-24b. A hose 30e based
on another type of external bias, an external elastic layer at
least partially bonded to segmented tubular wall 31, is shown in
FIGS. 4a-d,13a-14b and 25a-25c. The external elastic layer may be
integrally bonded to the entire segmented tubular wall or partially
bonded with some air gaps. The external elastic layer may be porous
to allow air to easily flow to create air gaps or the external
elastic layer may be nonporous. It is noted that hose 30 (30a, 30b,
30c, 30d, 30e, 30f) all include a segmented tubular wall 31 that
may or may not have an inherently built-in bias that may then work
in conjunction with an additional internal or external bias to help
expand and contract the hose. Therefore hose 30 may have any
combination of an inherent bias, an internal bias and an external
bias.
[0077] In order to use hose 30 for different applications, the hose
may include a first coupler 60 on first end 33 and a second coupler
62 on said second end 34. Hose 30 may include a wide variety of
couplers and not those just shown in FIGS. 15a-15e. To aid in
attaching couplers (60, 62) to hose 30, the hose may be produced
with straight sections 64 as shown in FIGS. 10a and 10b where the
straight sections are at specified lengths along the length of the
fabricated hose. Straight sections 64 are then cut at the midpoint
of the straight section. This produces a straight section 64 at
both ends of hose 30 as shown in FIGS. 9a and 9b. FIGS. 15a-15e
show five embodiments of how couplers (60, 62) may be integrated
with hose 30. In FIG. 15a, straight section 64 of hose 30a is
slipped over the coupler and secured with adhesive, thermal bonding
or a compression fitting 66. In the embodiment of hose 30b where an
internal elastic tube is used as the internal biasing element 52,
elastic tube may be fitted over the coupler and straight section 64
of the hose fitted over the internal elastic tube, FIG. 15b. Again
the straight section 64 and internal elastic tube may be secured to
couplers (60, 62) with adhesive, thermal bonding, a compression
fitting 66 or a barbed/ribbed fitting. In the embodiment of hose
30c where an external elastic tube is used as the external biasing
element 53, the external elastic tube may be fitted over the
coupler and straight section 64 of the hose, FIG. 15c. The straight
section 64 and external elastic tube 53 may be secured to couplers
(60, 62) with adhesive, thermal bonding, a compression fitting 66
or a barbed/ribbed fitting. In the embodiment of hose, 30e, where
an external elastic layer is used as the external biasing element
53, the external elastic layer may be fitted over the coupler and
straight section 64 of the hose, FIG. 15e. Again the straight
section 64 and external elastic layer 53 may be secured to couplers
(60, 62) with adhesive, thermal bonding, a compression fitting 66
or a barbed/ribbed fitting. FIG. 15d alternatively shows a hose
structure 30f having both an internal bias element 52 and an
external bias element 53 joined to a coupler (60, 62). For all
hoses 30b-30f it is also possible to have each internal bias
element 52 and external bias element 53 directly joined to
segmented tubular wall 31 and the segmented tubular wall by itself
joined to couplers (60, 62). Alternatively, each internal bias
element 52, external bias element 53 and segmented tubular wall 31
may each be joined separately to couplers (60, 62).
[0078] Hose 20 may be fabricated using corrugated extrusion
techniques as shown in FIG. 16. In this embodiment segmented
tubular wall 31 (a.k.a. corrugated hose structure) is formed by
having two tracks 72 holding mold blocks 74 (FIG. 17) rotate along
the length of the extruder 76. Heated extrusion material is fed at
the feed end and pressurized from within by air. The extrusion
material is expanded and forced against the inner sides of mold
blocks 74. The material cools as it moves along the length of
extruder 76 and exits having corrugated hose structure 70 having
segmented tubular wall 31.
[0079] To produce a hose 30 with a material memory force built into
segmented tubular wall 31, additional processing is performed once
the segmented tubular wall has been created. The as extruded
segmented tubular wall 31, FIG. 20a, is first collapsed by applying
pressure to the corrugated hose structure, FIG. 20b. The compressed
structure is then annealed, under temperature and pressure, for the
molecules to gain a memory position within the collapsed structure,
FIG. 20c. Once cooled, the molecules making up segmented tubular
wall 31 now remember their position so that after any extension,
the hose will return to the collapsed state whenever any extension
forces are removed, FIG. 20d. This process produces an inherent
bias in segmented tubular wall 31. Segmented tubular wall 31 may be
fabricated from a wide variety of raw corrugating materials
(thermosets and thermoplastics) that have properties of being
flexible or semi-rigid. Some of these materials are listed in FIG.
19a along with exemplary thermal processing needed to produce the
material memory force. Alternatively, shorter anneal times of only
minutes may be achieved by dipping the heated materials into water
or putting them through a high-speed cooler. Depending on the
material, anneal temperatures may also be broader than those listed
in FIG. 19a and in a range of 50.degree. C. to 450.degree. C.
[0080] In the embodiment where an internal bias element 52, such as
an internal elastic tube is used to form hose 30b, segmented
tubular wall 31 is cut to a selected length, then the elastic tube
is threaded through the segmented tubular wall and couplers (60,
62) added to both ends.
[0081] In the embodiment where an external bias element 53 such as
an external elastic tube or external elastic layer is used to form
hose 30c, co-extrusion may be used. Co-extrusion uses a co-extruder
78 where the elastic bias is created in a separate step by
fabricating an elastic tube or layer around segmented tubular wall
31. The compressed segmented tubular wall 31 is fed into the
co-extruder head and the elastic material is extruded around the
segmented tubular wall, FIGS. 18a-c. The elastic material may make
a uniform layer around segmented tubular wall 31. The elastic layer
becomes external bias element 53. The elastic layer may conform
during expansion or create air gaps between the elastic layer and
the segmented tubular wall 31. Elastic materials and processing
temperatures are listed in FIG. 19b. In other embodiment, elastic
layer may be created by a spray or dip process.
[0082] In general a double wall hose 30 with a segmented tubular
wall 31 and either an internal biasing layer or and external
biasing layer will be stronger and can withstand more pressure from
within. External biasing layers can also smooth ridges in the
segmented tubular wall and make the hose more abrasion
resistant.
[0083] FIG. 21 illustrates a general process flow for fabricating
hoses 30a-3e. The process starts with providing raw corrugating
materials 81 and raw elastic materials 82. The raw corrugating
material 81 is then processed by extrusion 84 into segmented
tubular wall 31. If an inherent bias is required, the segmented
tubular wall is processed thermally 86 to induce an inherent bias.
Internal bias element 52 and external bias element 53 are then
added by internal and external bias introduction 88 as desired. The
resulting structure is then processed by step 90 to form a hose 30
by cutting the structure to length and adding couplers (60,62).
[0084] FIGS. 22a-22c illustrate how fluid pressure from within hose
30a influences the expansion and contraction of the hose having a
built-in bias. With no fluid within hose 30a, the hose remains in a
fully collapsed state, FIG. 22a. When a pressurized fluid 80 fills
interior 32, contiguous segments 35 expand, FIG. 22b. Pressurized
fluid 80 may be any fluid, examples being water or compressed air.
When pressurized fluid 80 is turned off, some residual fluid
remains within interior 32, but having no pressure to support the
walls in an expanded state the memory forces collapse hose 30a,
FIG. 22c.
[0085] FIGS. 23a-23c illustrate how fluid pressure from within hose
30b influences the expansion and contraction of the hose having an
internal bias element 52 as an elastic tube. With no fluid within
hose 30b, the hose remains in a fully collapsed state, FIG. 23a.
When a pressurized fluid 80 fills interior 82 of internal elastic
tube, both internal elastic tube and contiguous segments 35 expand,
FIG. 23b. Pressurized fluid 80 may be any fluid, examples being
water or compressed air. When pressurized fluid 80 is turned off,
some residual fluid remains within interior 32, but having no
pressure to support the walls in an expanded state the bias forces
collapse hose 30b, FIG. 23c.
[0086] FIGS. 24a-24c illustrate how fluid pressure from within hose
30c influences the expansion and contraction of the hose having an
external bias element 53 as an elastic sleeve. With no fluid within
hose 30c, the hose remains in a fully collapsed state, FIG. 24a.
When a pressurized fluid 80 fills interior 32, contiguous segments
35 and elastic sleeve expand, FIG. 24b. Pressurized fluid 80 may be
any fluid, examples being water or compressed air. When pressurized
fluid 80 is turned off, some residual fluid remains within interior
32, but having no pressure to support the walls in an expanded
state the bias forces collapse hose 30c, FIG. 24c.
[0087] FIGS. 24a-24c illustrate how fluid pressure from within hose
30e influences the expansion and contraction of the hose having an
external bias element 53 as a bonded elastic layer. With no fluid
within hose 30e, the hose remains in a fully collapsed state, FIG.
25a. When a pressurized fluid 80 fills interior 32, contiguous
segments 35 and bonded elastic layer expand, FIG. 25b. Pressurized
fluid 80 may be any fluid, examples being water or compressed air.
When pressurized fluid 80 is turned off, some residual fluid
remains within interior 32, but having no pressure to support the
walls in an expanded state the bias forces collapse hose 30e, FIG.
25c.
[0088] While several embodiments of the invention, together with
modifications thereof, have been described in detail herein and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be evident that
various further modifications are possible without departing from
the scope of the invention. The scope of the claims should not be
limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but
should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the
description as a whole.
* * * * *